Ironing machine



July 14, 1936. R. s. HOWELL 2,047,560

IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1935- s Sheets-Sheet 1 E. J. H 0141,11. INVEN TOR.

BY Z

IZV ATTORNEY July 14, 1936.

R. SHOWELL IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R S.HOWLLL INVENTOR.

/ ATTORNEY July 14, 1936. Y R #5 HOWELL 2,047,560

IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented July 14,1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to ironing machines and more particularly tomachines of this kind in which irons are power operated longitudinallyof corresponding ironing boards and are controlled manually as to theirpositions transversely of the boards.

The main object of the present invention is to provide novel andadvantageous ironing means of the general class specified.

In carrying out the invention according to a preferred embodimentthereof, a pressing or smoothing iron is mounted on the forward end of amember or slide movable manually transversely of an ironing board byvirtue of a sliding mounting on a main carriage or slide at one side ofthe board and movable lengthwise thereof by means of an electric motorand suitable intermediate connections. The main carriage may bepositioned far enough from the ironing board to enable the iron, whennot in use, to be moved off the board and placed on a suitable support.i

The connection between the iron and its supporting slide may be eifectedby means of a pin or shaft extending upwardly from the iron and passingthrough a suitable bearing on the slide, some vertical play beingprovided to facilitate shifting of the iron from its support to theboard and vice versa. With this general arrangement the iron can bepointed in any desired direction and may be moved manually across theboard during its motor-actuated reciprocation lengthwise of the board.Normally the pressure between the iron and material on the board dependsprincipally on the weight of the iron and any downward pressure whichmay be produced by the hand of the operator placed on the handle of theiron. When it is desired to increase this pressure, the ironing boardmay be raised, as by means of a foot lever and suitable connections, theiron being held down by its connection with the supporting slide.

The means for reciprocating the main carriage may include a verticalshaft driven by said motor and positioned directly beneath the middlepoint of path of a shaft rotatably mounted in the main carriage andextending downwardly therefrom. Fixed on the lower of these shafts is acrank arm having an upwardly projecting crank pin on which is centrallyand pivotally mounted a lever on one arm of which is fixed the shaftrotatably mounted insaid main carriage, the last mentioned arm being ofthe same length as the crank arm and serving part of the time as a linkor connecting rod and part of the time as a lever arm. Due to thearrangement of the parts, the crank-and-link connection is notsufiicient to move the main carriage through the central part of itspath. The desired result may however be attained 'by providing atopposite sides of the path of the main carriage devices which cooperatewith the other end of said lever, or extension of said link, astemporary fulcrums and make it possible 'to-move the main carriagethrough its central position.

Preferably the iron is electrically heated and the connections are suchthatwhen during ordinary operation the iron is moved from its support tothe board the heating of the iron is begun and the motor is started andwhen the iron isreturned to its support the heating of the iron willstop and the motor will be stopped. Provision may also be made forstopping the motor at any time without shutting off the current from theiron.

' Other objects, features and advantages will appearupon considerationof the following description and of the drawings in which Fig. 1 is aplan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, parts being brokenaway to show underlying structure; i Fig. 2 is a section taken on theline 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the operating means for the maincarriage; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical system.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 'I 0 designates each ofthe legs of a machine frame having a top II which may be used to supportall of the operating parts. At the front of the machine is. a removableironing board l2 provided at its lower face with lugs 13 arranged toengage lugs 14 on supporting arms I5 secured at their inner ends to theupper ends of upright rods l6 slidably and rotatably mounted in bracketsH at inner sides of the front legs l0 and limited as 'to their downwardmovement by engagement of stops or flanges l8 on said rods with theupper faces of said brackets. Support for the outer ends of said arms I5may be provided by braces [9 attached at their upper ends to the outerends of arms I5, and sloping downwardly to said rods it, where theirlower ends are secured to the rods l6. When 'the'ironing board 12-is notin use, it maybe lifted from the arms 13 and the arms swung intopositions close to the frame.

Just below the lower ends of the braces I9 is a cross member 20 throughwhich the rods I6 pass. At its middle the cross member 20 is supportedby one end of a lever 2| pivoted on a suitable pivot or fulcrum in theform of a rod 22 supported by two braces 23 extending from the two frontlegs IO upwardly to the top I I. The other or rear end of the lever 21is pivoted to the upper end of a link 24 of which the lower end ispivoted to a foot lever 25 provided with a plate 26 to be engaged by thefoot of the operator for swinging the foot lever 25 about a pivot 21 andlift the ironing board to exert greater pressure between the board andthe iron which is held down in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The actual ironing is done by a suitable smoothing iron 28 having ahandle 29 and preferably being of the electric type with a thermostatcontrol. When not in use, the iron 28 rests on a support 30 carried bythe top or table II, the upper surface of the support 30 being atsubstantially the same level as the upper surface of the ironing board12. For mechanical operation the iron may be provided with an upwardlyprojecting pin 3| passing through a bearing opening in the forward endof an elongated member 32 extending horizontally in a directiontransverse with respect to the ironing board I2 and slidably moun ed ona main carriage or slide 33 slidable in guides 34 in a directionperpendicular to that in which said elongated member 32 moves. Theguides 34 are suitably supported on the table or top H, as by means ofchannels 34a. resting on the table.

Said elongated member 32, which is manually operable, is preferablytubular and is guided in an open tube 35 fixed on the main carriage orslide 33.

The main carriage 33 is provided at its lower side with a bearing forthe upper end of a pin 36 carried by one end of a link 3! pivotallymounted on a crank pin 38 projecting upwardly from a crank arm 39 of thesame effective length as link 31. The crank arm 39 is fixed to the upperend of a shaft 40 extending through the table or top H and journalled inand supported by a member 4| secured to the table II at its under side.Mounted on, the lower end of the shaft 43 is a gear 42 meshing with apinion 43 on the shaft of an electric motor 44 supported in any suitablemanner (not shown).

With the structure thus far recited the slide or carriage 33 could bebrought from either end of its path to a position in which the pin 36 isimmediately above the shaft 40. Then the link 31 and the crank arm wouldrevolve together without moving the carriage 33. To move the carriage 33past such dead point the link 31 may be provided with an extension orarm 45 forming with the link 31 a lever 46 and adapted to cooperate withtemporary fulcrum members 41, so that the leverage produced by movementof the crank pin 38 will effect movement of the carriage through itscentral position. As illustrated suitable cooperation between the end ofthe extension or arm 45 and the fulcrum members 41 may be obtained byproviding the fulcrum members with notches or recesses 48 and formingthe extension with a pointed end adapted to enter the notches.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, rotation of the crank arm 39 will move thecarriage from one end of its path to the middle of its path by the pullexerted through the link 31. As the carriage approaches the middle ofits path the pointed endof the extension will approach andenter therecess 48 on the corresponding fulcrum member 41 and the sidewisepressure produced by the crank pin 38 will, through actuation of thelever 46 carry the carriage 33 past the dead point so that the carriagemay be pushed to the other end 5 of its path. On the return stroke, theextension or arm 45 will cooperate with the other temporary fulcrummember 41.

Preferably the part of the machine above the top or table is, except forthe smoothing iron 10 support 30, enclosed by a casing or cover 49preferably of sheet metal. To accommodate the tubular member 32connected with the iron 29 and enable movement of the carriage 33, thefront wall of the casing is provided with a suitable slot 15 50 (Fig.2).

By use of a suitable electrical system such as that illustrated in Fig.5, movement of the iron 29 from its support 30 to the ironing board mayeffect closing of the circuit for motor 44 and of 20 the heating circuitfor the iron 29. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the motor 44 and a heater 5!are connected in parallel between two conductors 52 and 53 to whichcurrent may be supplied from a suitable source under control of theswitch 52. An- 25 other switch 54 controlled automatically by theposition of the iron may shut off the current from the motor and theheating device or restore it. Another switch 55 serves to control themotor 44 without afiecting the flow of current through the 30 heatingdevice 5|.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the switch 54 is mounted on the inside surfaceof the rear wall of the casing 49 and includes a centrally pivoted lever56 urged by a spring 51 toward circuit-closing posi- 35 tion and soarranged as to be swung to open position by the tubular member 32 whenthe iron 29 is placed on its support. As illustrated in Figs.

1 and 4, the switch 55 is carried on the iron 28. Obviously, the wiresconnected with the switch 55 4 may conveniently be passed through thetubular member 32 by which the iron reciprocated longitudinally of theironing board.

It will be evident that the apparatus of the present inventioneliminates much of the physi- 45 cal exertion of hand ironing, and thatthe movement of the iron can readily be controlled so that the operatoris able to meet satisfactorily any special requirements due, forexample, to the materials or construction of the articles to be ironed.5

The motor 44 imparts to the iron 28 a substantially simple harmonicreciprocating motion lengthwise of the ironing board and any motiontransverse to the board is effected manually.

Also the heating of the iron and the operation of 5;

the motor are readily controlled.

It should be understood that various changes may be made in the machineand that certain parts may be used without others without departing fromthe true scope and spirit of the invention. 30

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an ironingboard, a smoothing iron to cooperate therewith, means for actuating saidiron and limiting its upward movement, arms on 5 which the board rests,connections between the arms and the board to prevent horizontaldisplacement of the board while permitting vertical displacement andremoval thereof, supporting means for said arms whereby the arms may beswung out of the way when the board is removed, and means acting throughsaid supporting means for raising said board and increasing the pressurebetween the board and the iron.

2. In a machine of the class described, the com- 7 bination of asmoothing iron, a reciprocating carriage connected with said iron toactuate the same, a rotating shaft, a crank arm on said shaft, a crankpin on said arm, a connecting rod of the same effective length as saidcrank arm connecting said crank pin and said carriage whereby the crankpin can draw the carriage inwardly from either end of the path towardthe middle point thereof or push it outwardly from said middle but willtend to rotate said connecting rod with said crank arm when the carriageis at said middle point, and means for moving said carriage past themiddle point of its path.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a smoothingiron, a reciprocating carriage connected with said iron to actuate thesame, a rotating shaft, a crank arm on said shaft, a crank pin on saidarm, a connecting rod of the same effective length as said crank armconnecting said crank pin and said carriage whereby the crank pin candraw the carriage inwardly from either end of its path toward the middlepoint thereof or push it outwardly from said middle but will tend torotate said connecting rod with said crank arm when the carriage is atsaid middle point, and means operated by said crank pin for moving saidcarriage past said middle point of its path.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a smoothingiron, a reciprocating carriage connected with said iron to actuate thesame, a rotating shaft, a crank arm on said shaft, a crank pin on saidarm, a connecting rod of the said effective length as said crank armconnecting said crank pin and said carriage whereby the crank pin candraw the carriage inwardly from either end of its path toward the middlepoint thereof or push it outwardly from said middle point but will tendto rotate said connecting rod with said crank arm when the carriage isat said middle point, and means operated by said crank pin for movingthe carriage past said middle point of its path.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a smoothingiron, a reciprocating carriage connected with said iron to actuate thesame, a rotating shaft, a crank arm on said shaft, a crank pin on saidarm, a connecting rod of the same effective length as said crank armconnecting said crank pin and said carriage whereby the crank pin candraw the carriage inwardly from either end of its path toward the middlepoint thereof or push it outwardly from said middle point but will tendto rotate said connecting rod with said crank arm when the carriage isat said middle point, and means for moving said carriage past the middlepoint of its path including fulcrum devices at opposite sides of thepath of said carriage and an extension of said connecting rod past thecrank pin so as to engage one fulcrum device as the carriage approachessaid middle point in one direction and to engage the other fulcrumdevice as the carriage moves in the other direction, the connecting rodand its extension constituting a lever.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an ironingboard, a smoothing iron to cooperate therewith, means for actuating saidiron to act on articles on said board, a fixed support for said iron,and means whereby movement of the iron from the support to the boardwill start the iron-actuating means.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an ironingboard, a smoothing iron to cooperate therewith, means for operating saidiron along said board, a fixed support for said iron, and means wherebymovement of the iron from the board to the support will stop theironoperating means.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an ironingboard, a smoothing iron to cooperate therewith, means for operating saidiron along said board, a stationary support for said iron while not inuse, and means whereby movement of the iron from the support to theboard will start the iron-operating means and movement of the iron fromthe board to the support will stop the iron-operating means.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an ironingboard, a smoothing iron to cooperate therewith, an electric heating unitin said iron, an electric motor, means operated by said motor foroperating said iron along said board, a stationary support for saidiron, and means whereby movement of the iron from the support to theboard will cause the heating unit to heat the iron and will start themotor.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an ironingboard, a smoothing iron to cooperate therewith, an electric heating unitin said iron, an electric motor, means operated by said motor foroperating said iron along said board, a stationary support for saidiron, and means whereby movement of the iron from the board to thesupport will shut off the heating unit and the motor.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an ironingboard, a smoothing iron to cooperate therewith, an electric heating unitin said iron, an electric motor, means operated by said motor foroperating said iron along said board, a stationary support for saidiron, and means whereby movement of the iron from the support to theboard will render the heating unit effective and start the motor andmovement of the iron from the board to the support will have theopposite effect.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an ironingboard, a smoothing iron to cooperate therewith, an electric heating unitin said iron, an electric motor, means operated by said motor foroperating said iron along said board, a stationary support for saidiron, means whereby movement of the iron from the support to the boardwill start the heating unit and the motor and movement from the board tothe support will have the opposite effect, and means including a controlmember on the iron for stopping or starting the motor without affectingthe action of the heating unit.

' ROGER S. HOWELL.

